What does a library media specialist do?
A Library Media Specialist is in charge of managing and handling a library's media resources and providing visitors and staff assistance. They may work for public libraries, learning institutions, or other facilities with libraries. Their responsibilities usually include helping visitors locate media materials, preparing and processing resources, arranging items according to protocols, and overseeing computer equipment to ensure that they are in good condition. They may also maintain the cleanliness of libraries and implement its policies and regulations.
Library media specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real library media specialist resumes:
- Assist children on the autism spectrum academically and socially to achieve integration into a mainstream educational environment.
- Collaborate with teachers on student research projects by teaching information literacy skills emphasizing on inquiry and organization using some technology.
- Teach pre-K through 5th grade.
- Initiate and run a summer sewing camp.
- Create and run an alternative high school library.
- Facilitate intervention with a small group of kindergarten students.
- Teach elementary library classes to Pre-K thru 6th graders (with a focus on the arts).
- Coordinate programming for kindergarten students.
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive and efficient cataloging and inventorying materials in the media center.
- Modele lessons for classroom teachers using scientifically, research base instructional strategies, identify site staff development needs.
- Verify and maintain acquisitions, cataloging information and distribution records including processing all records into the school database.
- Implement goals and objectives for math course curricula using innovative, non-traditional, technology-base learning environment engaging learners both academically and socially
- Used creative methods such as simulation, photography and musical instruments to embellish curriculum.
Library media specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Library Media Specialists are proficient in Professional Development, Library Materials, and K-12. They’re also known for soft skills such as Initiative, Reading skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Library Media Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Professional Development, 8%
Provided professional development opportunities to school and district staff in the areas of curriculum planning and emerging educational technologies.
- Library Materials, 7%
Provided technical services support in a variety of functions: basic/copy cataloging, ordering/receiving/processing and requisitioning of library materials.
- K-12, 7%
Managed K-12 Library Automated Catalog Managed Budget and Purchases
- Library Resources, 6%
Serve students and faculty maintaining and increasing awareness of library resources.
- Instructional Materials, 5%
Gather instructional materials for classroom instruction.
- Instructional Technology, 5%
Establish an environment that encouraged creative and independent use of instructional technology.
"professional development," "library materials," and "k-12" are among the most common skills that library media specialists use at work. You can find even more library media specialist responsibilities below, including:
Initiative. One of the key soft skills for a library media specialist to have is initiative. You can see how this relates to what library media specialists do because "new information, technology, and resources constantly change the details of what librarians do." Additionally, a library media specialist resume shows how library media specialists use initiative: "provided professional development and training on new technology initiatives, ebooks, and online research databases. "
Reading skills. Many library media specialist duties rely on reading skills. "librarians must be excellent readers," so a library media specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways library media specialist responsibilities rely on reading skills: "directed the library media center promoted reading and literacy produced student morning news show chaired the lowndes county school system technology committee"
Problem-solving skills. library media specialists are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to library media specialist responsibilities, because "librarians conduct and assist with research." A library media specialist resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "reported unresolved technology problems to parish technicians and assisted them in correction/repair. "
Technology skills. library media specialist responsibilities often require "technology skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "librarians use technology to help patrons research topics." This resume example shows what library media specialists do with technology skills on a typical day: "chaired school's technology committee. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a library media specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what library media specialists relies on this skill, since "librarians need to be able to explain ideas and information in ways that patrons understand." How this skill relates to library media specialist duties can be seen in an example from a library media specialist resume snippet: "maintained communication with staff and other dps library media assistants. "
The three companies that hire the most library media specialists are:
- Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES6 library media specialists jobs
- Scholar Academies4 library media specialists jobs
- Montgomery County Public Schools4 library media specialists jobs
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Compare different library media specialists
Library media specialist vs. Audio visual secretary
Librarians are trained in the field of information science so they can assist people in search of information. They direct and develop information systems and programs for the public. It is their job to make sure that the data is well-organized to meet every library user's needs. Their library work focuses on three main aspects, including user services, administrative services, and technical services. Typically, librarians work in schools, government, or local libraries.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a library media specialist are more likely to require skills like "professional development," "library materials," "k-12," and "library resources." On the other hand, a job as an audio visual secretary requires skills like "dns," "electrical issues," "pc," and "firewall." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, audio visual secretaries reach lower levels of education than library media specialists. Audio visual secretaries are 25.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Library media specialist vs. Multimedia services coordinator
A library technician is responsible for sorting books and other catalogs to their appropriate shelf for easy and accurate searching. Library technicians manage and monitor the materials borrowed from the facility, keeping a record of the borrower's information and updating details on the library's database. They also assist the visitors with their inquiries and concerns, leading them to the appropriate area of their needs, and remind everyone of the policies and regulations inside the library.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, library media specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "professional development," "library materials," "k-12," and "library resources." Meanwhile, a multimedia services coordinator has duties that require skills in areas such as "audio equipment," "visual equipment," "classroom technology," and "web content." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, multimedia services coordinators achieve lower levels of education than library media specialists. They're 28.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Library media specialist vs. Librarian
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, library media specialists are more likely to have skills like "professional development," "k-12," "instructional materials," and "instructional technology." But a librarian is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "library system," "research assistance," and "interlibrary loan."
Librarians earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $55,408. Comparatively, library media specialists have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $42,687.When it comes to education, librarians tend to earn lower degree levels compared to library media specialists. In fact, they're 16.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Library media specialist vs. Library technician
Types of library media specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
